Jack Threads

You might be hesitant to buy clothing online since you can’t try things on first, but there are loads of great deals on the web if you know where to look. For the dapper gentleman, Jack Threads is one such place.

Jack Threads is an online members-only retail site launched by Jason Ross in 2006 featuring stylish duds and accessories, all at bargain pricing. At first it was just him running the operation from his apartment, but the business grew steadily over the years and in May 2010 was acquired by Thrillist Co., a media company with a following of 2.5 million guys.

The deal resulted in Jack Threads exploding with 300 per cent growth in the first year, and doubling every year after. They deliver to US, Canada, Australia, and UK, and prices on Jack Threads all come with discounts as high as eighty per cent off.

“We buy close-outs and we have brands making products for us,” says founder and CEO Jason Ross. “We have our own in-house label team, so we’re designing product on our own from front to back. Any time we’re going into a season, we can pretty much guarantee that we’ve got access to all the latest trends.”

When Jack Threads started out, it only offered casual street and skate wear. Over the years, it’s grown to appeal to just about any taste.

“I think the tailored category is on fire right now, and anything related to that like blazers and suit pants. Anything in a contemporary aesthetic seems to be what the customer wants,” says Ross. “We’ve had a lot of success with pattern woven and novelty prints across a number of different categories.”

In April 2012, Jack Threads launched a mobile app allowing customers to shop and place orders with their phones. The app now accounts for forty five per cent of Jack Threads’ daily sales.

“Our customers live life on the go and need convenience. It’s a big part of our experience. The app caters to that and we’ve had a lot of success with that,” says Ross.

In the future, Jack Threads is looking into men’s grooming as a new category for expansion. One stop shopping for gents has never been easier.

————Chris Riddell is a freelance writer from Toronto who covers art, business, and urban life for various fine publications. Also a poet and aspiring novelist, he’s busting his butt trying to get his name into a few literary magazines these days. He encourages you to check out his website for a look at what he’s been working on lately.